5  ^J>  i 


CONSTITUTION 


O  F 


NATIONAL  TRIM  ASSEMBLY  158 


Knights  of  Labor. 


(MACHINERY  CONSTRUCTORS’  ASSOCIATION  OF  NORTH  AMERICA.) 


ORGANIZED  MARCH  19.  1887. 


ADOPTED  AT  PITTSBUKG,  PA.,  JUNE  6-10,  1887. 


NEW  YORK : 

Concord  Co-opfrative  Printing  Company  Limited), 
47  and  49  Centre  Street. 


1887. 


,  •  r  * 


3  3/,  V  ^ 

arT/J 


IIIIImIEII 


Of  all  the  industries  manifesting  their  activity  in 
social  life,  that  of  Machinery  Construction  is  the 
most  important ;  it  is,  in  fact,  the  conservator  of 
all  future  civilization. 

Civilization  is  the  gradual  process  through  and 
by  which  the  higher  and  nobler  faculties  of  man 
are  unfolded  and  developed ;  and  it  receives  its 
higher  form  of  expression  in  the  concensus  of 
those  human  activities,  wherein  the  industrial  energy 
of  society  is  gradually  eliminating  the  warfare  of  man 
upon  man. 

And  what  a  pre-eminent  position  Machinery  oc¬ 
cupies  in  this  process  we  shall  be  better  able  to 
appreciate  when  we  understand  that  both  in  phys¬ 
ical  and  in  industrial  war,  that  it  is  the  development 
and  introduction  of  Machinery  that  is  rapidly  render¬ 
ing  both  forms  of  conflict  impossible  ;  for  in  carrying 
bn  these  two  forms  of  warfare  to  a  much  greater 
extent  the  political  monopolists — ( i .  e .)  kings,  em¬ 
perors  and  politicians — and  the  industrial  monopo¬ 
lists — ( i .  e.)  millionaires  and  corporations— but  en¬ 
compass  their  own  destruction,  and  the  workers 


IS3 


4 


PREAMBLE. 


will  then  have  learned  that  the  only  enemy  they 
have  really  to  combat  is  ignorance;  and  in  this 
warfare  it  is  Machinery  guarantees  success. 

For  centuries  the  masses  of  mankind  have  been 
industrial  and  political  slaves  to  a  privileged  few. 
They  have  slaughtered  and  pillaged  each  other 
that  a  king  or  a  politician  might  rule  while  they 
might  serve.  They  have  transformed  the  wilder¬ 
ness  into  a  garden,  the  quarry  into  a  palace,  and 
the  mine  into  an  Alladin’s  cave ;  but  to  them  the 
gardens  are  as  of  Eden  with  its  flaming  sword,  the 
palaces  but  gloom  their  hovels,  while  the 
mines  furnish  machinery  that  drives  them,  shack- 
els  that  enslave  them,  weapons  that  slaughter 
them  and  gold  that  betrays  them.  Surely  uni-* 
versal  intelligence,  which  Machinery  makes  possi¬ 
ble,  will  tolerate  no  such  abominable  perversion 
of  the  beneficence  of  Nature. 

If,  then,  our  industry  performs  such  an  all-im¬ 
portant  part  in  the  field  of  civilization,  let  us,  fel¬ 
low-craftsmen  and  workers,  have  pride  enough  in 
our  calling  to  exact  our  rights  and  to  perform  our 
duty ;  and  among  those  rights  which  we  may  justly 
exact  are  the  following  : 

First — More  leisure,  through  the  shortening  of 
the  hours  of  labor,  in  order  that  we  may  strengthen 
our  intellectual  faculties  through  mental  exercise, 
and  our  morals  through  more  time  devoted  to  our 
families. 

Second — An  increased  compensation,  that  we  may 


PREAMBLE. 


5 


have  the  material  with  which  to  cultivate  our  minds, 
elevate  our  tastes,  and  develop  our  individualities. 
And  as  means  to  these  ends  we  shall  work  for  the 
shortening  of  the  hours  of  labor,  for  the  abolition 
of  the  contract  system,  piece  work,  and  over-time, 
except  in  cases  of  emergency,  when  double  com¬ 
pensation  shall  be  exacted.  That  the  running  of 
two  or  more  machines  by  one  person  be  abolished ; 
and  that  we  shall  oppose  the  substitution  of  boys 
for  men,  except  they  are  indentured  as  regular 
apprentices,  in  due  proportion  to  the  number  of 
hands  employed ;  that  we  shall  use  every  endeavor 
to  have  properly  lighted,  heated  and  ventilated 
shops ;  and  to  reduce  all  danger  from  accident  to 
a  minimum  by  the  employment  of  the  proper  safe¬ 
guards  and  the  enforcement  of  the  Jaws  relating 
thereto ;  and,  finally,  that  in  practical  Education 
we  recognize  the  lever  by  which  the  industrial 
masses  will  be  elevated  to  a  higher  moral  and 
intellectual  plane. 


'constitution  | 

—  OF  — 

Datie^al  Trade  K  ^  ^ § i 


ARTICLE  I. 

NAME  AND  ORGANIZATION. 

Section  1.  This  organization  shall  be  known  to 
all  members  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  as  National 
Trade  Assembly  198,  K.  of  L. ;  to  the  outside  world 
it  shall  be  known  as  Machinery  Constructors’  Asso¬ 
ciation  of  North  America. 

Sec.  2.  This  N.  T.  A.  shall  be  organized  territo¬ 
rially  into  Divisions,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  3.  Representation  in  this  N.  T.  A.  198  shall 
be  by  delegates,  or  alternates,  elected  as  follows : 
One  delegate  for  the  first  one  hundred  members  in 
good  standing,  or  for  a  fractional  part  thereof ;  and 
one  additional  delegate  for  every  additional  one 


CONSTITUTION. 


8 


hundred  members  in  good  standing  or  majority 
fraction  thereof. 

AKTICLE  II. 

AUTHORITY  AND  JURISDICTION. 

Section  1.  This  N.  T.  A.  198  shall  have  full  and 
final  jurisdiction,  under  the  General  Assembly  and 
its  laws,  over  all  Departments  or  Divisions,  Bu¬ 
reaus  or  Locals  that  have  been  organized  by  this  N. 
T.  A.  198,  or  those  who  have  voluntarily  attached 
themselves  to  it,  and  embracing  the  following 
branches  of  the  Machinery  Constructing  industry, 
i.  e.:  Pattern-makers,  Foundrymen,  Blacksmiths, 
Machinists,  Boiler-makers,  and  the  respective 
Helpers  of  each. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  have  power  to  levy  assessments 
for  its  own  maintenance  upon  all  Locals  under  its 
jurisdiction,  and  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  Article  X.  of  this  Constitution ;  and  also  to  adopt 
rules  and  regulations  for  the  administration  of  in¬ 
dustrial  and  trade  affairs  other  than  those  that  are 
hereinafter  provided  for. 

Sec.  3.  The  power  to  establish  Locals  of  any  of 
the  trades  (either  as  mixed  or  distinct  trades),  em¬ 
braced  in  Section  1  of  this  Article,  shall  be  under 
the  control  of  this  N.  T.  A.  198,  under  the  follow¬ 
ing  conditions :  (1)  Each  and  every  Division  shall 
have  authority  to  establish  Locals,  composed  of 
individuals  working  at  any  of  the  before  specified 
trades,  and  situated  in  the  territory  covered  by 


CONSTITUTION.  9 


their  respective  jurisdiction.  (2)  In  case  of  dis¬ 
pute  between  two  or  more  Divisions  over  the  estab¬ 
lishment  of  a  new  Local,  this  N.  T.  A.  198,  through 
its  N.  Ex.  C.,  shall  have  power  to  decide.  (3)  In 
those  localities  where  Divisions  have  not  been  es¬ 
tablished  this  N.  T.  A.  198,  through  its  officers, 
shall  have  jurisdiction  over  the  organization  of 
new  Locals  eligible  to  become  attached  to  this  N. 
T.  A.  198,  and  also  over  the  formation  of  Depart¬ 
ments  in  disputed  cases.  (4)  The  organization  and 
regulation  of  Bureaus  shall  be  under  the  authority 
of  this  N.  T.  A.  198,  until  a  Department  is  organ¬ 
ized  in  the  same  locality,  when  they  come  under 
its  jurisdiction,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

ARTICLE  III. 

MEETINGS. 

Section  1.  This  N.  T.  A.  198  shall  have  a  regular 
session  once  a  year,  commencing  the  first  Monday 
in  June,  and  at  such  place  as  may  be  from  time  to 
time  determined  upon. 

Sec.  2.  Special  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  N. 

M.  W.  at  the  written  request  of  five  Divisions  from 
five  different  States,  and  two  of  these  Divisions 
must  be  situated  at  least  one  thousand  miles  dis¬ 
tant  from  each  other;  and  all  Locals  entitled  to 
representation  at  the  special  session  shall  receive 
at  least  twenty  days’  notice  of  the  same  from  the 

N.  S.  T.,  and  the  object  of  the  call  shall  also  be 
stated  therein. 

Sec.  3.  Delegates  to  this  N.  T.  A.  198  must  be 


10 


CONSTITUTION. 


elected  thirty  days  before  the  sessions  of  this  N. 
T.  A.  (except  in  case  of  death  or  resignation),  and 
must  have  been  members  of  the  Order  at  least  six 
months  prior  to  their  election;  except  in  case  of 
Locals  newly  organized,  when  they  must  have  been 
members  from  date  of  organization. 

Sec.  4.  In  no  case  will  the  credential  of  any  dele¬ 
gate  be  accepted  if  it  be  known  that  such  delegate 
is  not  at  the  time  employed  at  any  of  the  before 
specified  trades ;  unless  he  has  been  elected  by  a 
two-third  vote  of  the  members  of  the  Local  he  rep¬ 
resents,  and  must  be  so  certified  in  his  credential ; 
but  all  members  serving  in  official  capacities  in 
the  Order  are  exempt  from  the  provisions  of  this 
section. 

Sec.  5.  Each  delegate  to  this  N.  T.  A.  198  must 
present  this  body  a  credential,  the  duplicate  of 
which  must  have  been  forwarded  to  the  N.  S.  T.  by 
the  K.  S.  of  the  L.  A.  he  is  to  represent  at  least 
fifteen  days  prior  to  the  session  of  this  N.  T.  A. 
This  also  applies  to  credentials  of  alternates  The 
full  name  and  address  of  the  delegate  or  alternate 
must  also  appear  on  said  credential  when  for¬ 
warded  to  the  N.  S.  T. — in  his  own  handwriting — 
and  the  seal  of  the  L.  A.  must  be  attached.  A  du¬ 
plicate  credential  must  also  be  presented  at  the 
opening  session  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  but  the  signature 
of  delegate  or  alternate  must  not  be  signed  thereon 
until  after  presentation  to  Credential  Committee. 

Sec.  6.  The  expenses  of  delegates  or  alternates 


CONSTITUTION.  11 


to  this  N.  T.  A.  must  be  paid  by  the  Locals  they 
represent ;  but  every  L.  A  shall  be  entitled  to 
receive  from  this  N.  T.  A.  198  mileage  compensa¬ 
tion  at  the  rate  of  two  cents  per  mil-e,  going 
and  returning,  for  each  delegate  or  alternate  they 
are  entitled  to  and  who  attend  the  sessions  of 
this  N.  T.  A.  The  expenses  of  such  National  Offi¬ 
cers  whose  presence  may  be  required  at  the  ses¬ 
sions  of  this  N.  T.  A.  shall  be  paid  out  of  the 
treasury  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  unless  they  are  regu¬ 
larly  accredited  delegates,  when  their  expenses 
must  be  paid  by  the  L.  A.  they  represent. 

Sec  7.  The  representatives  and  alternates  from 
this  N.  T.  A.  198  to  the  General  Assembly  shall  be 
elected  at  the  regular  sessions  of  this  N.  T.  A.  A 
sufficient  number  of  delegates  to  be  elected  above 
the  quota,  as  based  upon  reports  of  April  1,  to  allow 
for  increased  membership,  death  or  resignation ; 
those  delegates  entitled  to  be  present  in  the  G.  A. 
to  be  taken  from  the  list  in  the  order  of  their  elec¬ 
tion,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  delegate,  or 
the  L.  A.  he  represents,  to  notify  the  N.  S  T  at 
least  ten  days  before  the  session  of  the  G.  A.  of  his 
ability  to  attend  the  same. 

ARTICLE  IY. 

OFFICERS  AND  TERMS  OF  OFFICE. 

Section  1.  The  officers  of  this  N.  T.  A.  198  shall 
consist  of  a  National  Master  Workman,  National 
Worthy  Foreman,  National  Secretary-Treasurer, 
and  National  Statistician,  each  of  whom  shall  be 


12  CONSTITUTION. 


elected  at  the  regular  annual  session  of  this  N.  T. 

A.,  and  all  vacancies  by  death  or  other  causes  must 
be  filled  by  the  N.  Ex.  C.  inside  of  thirty  days  after 
receiving  notice  of  the  same  from  the  N  S.  T. 

Sec.  2.  Officers  appointed  at  the  sessions  of  this 
N.  T.  A.  by  the  N.  M.  W.  are  the  same  as  laid  down 
in  the  Constitution  of  the  Order  for  the  G.  A. 

Sec.  3  There  shall  also  be  a  National  Executive 
Council,  composed  of  the  N.  M.  W.,  N.  S.  T.  (as 
Chairman  and  Secretary  respectively),  and  five  : 
members. 

Sec.  4.  In  electing  officers,  nominations  shall  be 
made  for  one  office  at  a  time,  and  the  election 
shall  take  place  before  any  further  nominations 
are  made. 

AKTICLE  Y. 

DUTIES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Section  1.  The  N.  M.  W.  shall  preside  at  all 
sessions  of  this  N.  T.  A. ;  shall  have  general  super¬ 
intendence  over,  and  enforce  all  laws  of  this  N.  T. 

A.  when  it  is  not  in  session  ;  and  may  Gall  a  special 
meeting  of  this  N.  T  A.,  under  the  provisions  of 
Article  III.,  Section  2,  of  this  Constitution;  shall 
sign  all  papers  and  documents  that  require  the 
signature  of  the  N.  M.  W.  ;  shall  report  quarterly, 
or  oftener  if  he  deems  it  necessary  to  the  G.  S.,  all 
matters  of  interest  to  the  Order  occurring  in  and 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  N.  T.  A. ;  the  increase 
or  decrease  of  membership  in  this  N.  T.  A. ;  whether 
the  members  are  generally  employed  or  not ;  gen- 


CONSTITUTION.  13 


eral  state  of  trade  and  wages ;  cause  of  dissatisfac¬ 
tion  among  members,  if  any ;  report  all  matters  of 
interest  concerning  local  co-operative  enterprise  in 
the  line  of  machinery  construction ;  all  strikes,  or 
the  settlement  of  any  difficulties  by  arbitration, 
and  all  efforts  on  the  part  of  members,  whether 
successful  or  not,  to  better  their  condition  by  po¬ 
litical  action;  shall  quarterly,  in  January,  April, 
July  and  October,  make  a  password  for  the  exclu¬ 
sive  use  of  the  Locals  in  this  N.  T.  A.,  and  issue 
the  same,  with  the  assistance  of  the  N  S.  T.  and 
Organizers.  Shall  have  a  general  supervision  of  all 
work  done  by  Organizers  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
this  N.  T.  A.,  and  report  any  neglect  of  the  laws  of 
the  Order  to  the  G.  M.  W. ;  shall  instruct  all  mem¬ 
bers  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  and  all  Organizers  appointed 
through  it,  in  the  secret  work  of  this  Assembly ; 
and  at  the  annual  session  of  this  N.  T.  A  he  shall 
make  a  written  report  of  all  official  acts  during 
his  term ;  shall  have  charge  of  the  charter  and 
secret  work  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  and  shall  perform 
such  other  duties  as  the  laws  and  usages  of  the 
Order  may  require ;  and  in  compensation  for  his 
services  he  shall  receive  such  a  sum  as  may  be 
fixed  at  the  annual  sessions  of  this  N.  T.  A  ,  and, 
in  addition  thereto,  he  shall  receive  compensation 
for  actual  expenses  incurred  in  the  line  of  duty. 

Sec.  2.  The  National  Secretary-Treasurer  shall 
keep  a  correct  report  of  the  proceedings  of  this  N 
T.  A.  and  Executive  Council ;  read  all  communica- 


14  CONSTITUTION. 


tions,  reports,  petitions,  etc. ;  affix  the  seal  of  this 
N.  T.  A.  to  all  documents,  when  necessary ;  pre¬ 
pare  for  publication  copies  of  the  proceedings  of 
this  N.  T.  A.  within  two  months  after  the  close  of 
the  annual  or  special  session ;  make  to  this  N  T. 
A.,  at  its  annual  session,  a  complete  statement  of 
the  condition  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  compiled  from  the 
latest  reports  of  Divisions,  Bureaus  and  Locals ;  in 
the  months  of  January,  April,  July  and  October, 
shall  furnish  to  all  Locals  in  good  standing  the 
quarterly  password  prepared  by  the  N.  M.  W.,  and 
to  each  Organizer  under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  N. 
T.  A. ;  shall  conduct  the  correspondence  of  this 
N.  T.  A, ;  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  names,  num¬ 
bers  and  location  of  all  Divisions,  Bureaus  and  Lo¬ 
cals  attached  to  this  N.  T.  A. ;  shall  have  charge  of 
the  seal,  books,  papers,  etc.,  belonging  to  this  N.  T. 
A. ;  shall  promptly  notify  the  Gen.  Secretary  of  any 
change  in  the  office  of  N.  M.  W.  or  N.  S.  T.,  and 
also  the  names  and  addresses  of  all  members  re¬ 
commended  as  Organizers ;  shall  present  to  this  N. 
T.  A.  at  its  annual  session  a  full  and  correct  state¬ 
ment  of  the  moneys  received  and  paid  out  during 
the  year ;  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
or  sooner  if  called  upon  by  the  proper  authority, 
shall  turn  over  to  his  successor  in  office  the  seal, 
books,  documents,  etc.,  and  all  other  property  be¬ 
longing  to  this  N.  T.  A.  198;  and  shall  receive, 
above  his  necessary  expenses  incurred  in  the  line 
of  duty,  such  compensation  as  may  from  time  to 


CONSTITUTION.  15 


time  be  fixed  by  this  N.  T.  A.,  and  shall  furnish 
such  bonds  as  the  N.  Ex.  C.  may  require. 

Sec.  3.  The  National  Worthy  Foreman  shall  assist 
the  N.  M.  W.  during  the  sessions  of  this  N.  T.  A., 
and  in  case  of  the  death,  removal  or  resignation  of 
the  N.  M.  W.,  he  shall  succeed  to  and  fill  all  the 
duties  of  that  office  until  the  expiration  of  the 
term. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  National  Statis¬ 
tician  to  collect  from  the  Statisticians  of  each  Local, 
and  from  all  other  available  sources,  all  informa¬ 
tion  possible  of  attainment,  showing  the  condition 
of  the  workers  in  the  various  branches  of  the  Ma¬ 
chinery  Constructing  industry,  and  the  state  of 
trade ;  to  prepare  and  forward  to  the  N.  S.  T.  a 
semi-annual  report  of  such  information ;  and  at  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  or  sooner  if  called 
upon  by  the  proper  authority,  shall  turn  over  to 
his  successor  in  office  all  books,  documents,  etc., 
belonging  to  this  N.  T.  A.  ;  and  he  shall  receive, 
above  his  necessary  expenses,  such  compensation 
as  may  from  time  to  time  be  fixed  by  this  N.  T.  A 
at  its  annual  session. 

Sec.  5.  The  National  Inspector,  National  Inside 
Esquire  and  National  Outside  Esquire  shall  per¬ 
form  their  duties  as  laid  down  in  the  A.  K  and 
secret  work  of  the  Order. 

Sec.  6.  The  N.  Ex.  C.  shall  recommend  to  the 
Gen.  M  W.  as  many  Organizers  as  they  may  deem 
necessary  to  properly  carry  on  the  work  of  organ- 


16  CONSTITUTION. 


izing  the  Machinery  Constructing  industry.  Said 
Organizers  must  be  members  in  good  standing  of 
some  of  the  Locals  attached  to  this  N.  T.  A  ,  and 
be  profficient  at  their  branch  of  the  industry ;  but 
an  Organizer  from  one  branch  of  the  industry  may 
organize  a  Local  of  any  other  branch  when  called 
upon  to  do  so. 

Sec.  7.  The  N.  Ex.  C.  shall  act  as  Trustees  of 
this  N.  T.  A.,  and  have  a  general  supervision  and 
control  over  this  N.  T.  A. ;  shall  have  power  to  de¬ 
cide  appeals  from  the  decision  of  the  N  M.  W.  upon 
all  matters  directly  appertaining  to  the  Trade  and 
Industry,  such  decision  of  appeal  to  stand  until  the 
next  session  of  this  N.  T.  A.  All  vacancies  occur¬ 
ring  in  the  N.  Ex.  C.  shall  be  filled  by  the  body 
itself  from  among  any  of  the  Past  Representa¬ 
tives  to  this  N.  T.  A.,  or  any  of  the  Past  National 
Officers. 

Sec.  8.  The  N.  Ex.  C  shall  have  power  to  ap¬ 
point,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  N.  S.  T  , 
such  additional  assistance  in  the  office  of  the  N.  S. 
T.  as  from  time  to  time  may  be  found  necessary 

Sec.  9.  The  N.  Ex.  C.  small  hold  its  sessions 
at  such  places  as  it  deems  most  convenient  or 
economical,  at  the  call  of  the  chairman  of  the 
Council,  or  at  the  written  request  of  three  (3)  of 
its  members,  and  all  necessary  expenses  for  such 
meetings  shall  be  paid  by  the  N  S.  T.,  upon  a  war¬ 
rant  drawn  and  signed  by  the  N.  M.  W.  and  two 
members  of  the  Council. 


CONSTITUTION. 


17 


Sec  10.  The  N.  Ex.  C  shall  be  governed  in  its 
actions  relating  to  strikes,  lock-outs,  etc.,  by  the 
provisions  of  Article  IX.  of  this  Constitution. 

Sec.  11.  Each  member  of  the  N  Ex.  C  shall  re¬ 
ceive  three  dollars  ($3.00)  per  day  for  any  time  he 
may  be  engaged  in  the  services  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  and 
he  shall  also  be  paid  his  necessary  expenses ;  but 
fare  on  railroads,  boats,  etc.,  shall  only  be  ren¬ 
dered  at  actual  cost  of  tickets. 

Sec  12.  Any  officer  of  this  N.  T.  A.  wishing  to 
resign,  must  forward  notice  of  the  same  to  the  N. 

S.  T  at  least  fifteen  days  before  his  resignation  is 
to  take  effect ;  and  all  such  resignations  must  be 
passed  upon  and  decided  by  the  N.  Ex.  C. 

| 

ARTICLE  VI. 

REVENUE, 

The  revenue  for  the  maintenance  of  this  N.  T.  A. 
shall  be  six  (6)  cents  per  capita  tax  upon  each 
member  in  good  standing  on  the  first  day  of  Jan¬ 
uary,  April,  July  and  October,  from  each  and  every 
Local  attached  to  this  N.  T.  A. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

ORGANIZERS. 

All  recommendations  for  Organizers  must  be 
acted  upon  by  this  N.  T.  A.  while  in  session ;  or  in 
the  interval,  if  required,  shall  be  recommended  by 
the  N.  Ex.  C.  before  being  forwarded  to  the  G. 

M.  W. 


CONSTITUTION. 


18 


« 


ARTICLE  VIII. 

ISOLATED  LOCALS. 

Section  1.  Wherever  there  may  be  Locals  at¬ 
tached  to  this  N.  T.  A.  whose  situation  is  so  far 
removed  from  other  Locals  of  this  N.  T.  A.  as  to 
preclude  the  possibility  of  their  forming  a  part  of  a 
Division  or  Bureau,  they  shall  be  under  the  imme¬ 
diate  jurisdiction  of  this  N.  T.  A. 


AETICLE  IX. 


STRIKES  AND  ARBITRATION. 

Section  1.  No  strike  shall  be  approved  or  sus¬ 
tained  by  this  N.  T.  A.  for  an  increase  of  wages,  un¬ 
less  at  least  30  days  notice  of  the  intention  to  do 
so  has  been  forwarded  to  the  N.  S.  T.  and  in  all 
cases  the  provisions  of  Section  3  of  this  Article 
must  be  complied  with ;  but  this  shall  in  no  way 
preclude  the  approval  by  the  N.  Ex.  C.  of  strikes 
against  reduction  of  wages,  or  other  grievances 
that  may  require  immediate  action. 

Sec.  2.  In  all  cases  where  assistance  is  rendered 
by  this  N.  T.  A.  to  strikes,  lock-outs,  etc.,  a  list  of 
the  total  number  of  members  on  strike  or  locked 
out  must  be  furnished  to  the  N.  S.  T.,  all  the  num¬ 
ber  of  members  in  said  strike  or  lock-out,  who  are 
over  three  months  in  arears,  and  no  assistance 
shall  be  paid  by  this  N.  T.  A.  to  such  persons  while 
they  remain  in  arrears. 

Sec.  3.  Whenever  the  N.  Ex.  C.  after  careful 


CONSTITUTION. 


deliberation,  deem  it  necessary  to  order  a  demand 
for  increased  wages,  short  hours,  etc.,  in  any  par¬ 
ticular  locality ;  after  receiving  the  approval  of  the 
Division  or  Local,  under  whose  jurisdiction  said 
demand  is  to  be  enforced,  they  shall  issue  a  circu¬ 
lar  through  the  N.  S.  T.  to  all  Locals  under  the  ju¬ 
risdiction  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  stating  the  facts  in  the 
case,  and  the  reasons  actuating  the  N.  Ex.  C.  in 
ordering  said  demands.  Upon  a  Local  receiving 
said  circular  it  shall  immediately  order  a  call  for  a 
special  meeting  of  said  L.  A.  to  take  place  not 
later  than  three  weeks  after  the  receipt  of  circular, 
for  the  purpose  of  adopting  or  rejecting  the  recom¬ 
mendation  of  the  N.  Ex.  C.  as  stated  in  circular ; 
and  a  vote  shall  be  taken  upon  it,  and  the  total 
number  of  members  present,  the  number  voting  in 
the  affirmative  and  the  number  voting  in  the  nega¬ 
tive,  shall  be  endorsed  on  said  circular,  signed  by 
the  M.  W.  and  R.  S.  and  the  seal  of  the  L.  A.  attached, 

7  i 

and  shall  then  be  returned  to  the  N.  S.  T.  within 
one  (1)  week  after  said  vote  is  taken. 

Sec.  4.  If  the  recommendation  of  the  N.  Ex.  C. 
is  sustained  by  a  two-third  majority  of  the  mem¬ 
bers  present  in  the  meetings  (those  not  voting, 
counted  in  the  affirmative)  of  all  the  Locals ;  then 
the  N.  Ex.  C.  shall  issue  instructions  to  the  Offi¬ 
cers  of  the  Division  or  Local  under  whose  jurisdic¬ 
tion  said  demand  is  to  be  enforced,  to  take  the 
necessary  action  to  request  of  the  employers  se¬ 
lected  that  they  increase  the  wages  of  their  em- 


I 


20  CONSTITUTION. 


ployes ;  or  decrease  their  hours  of  labor,  as  the 
case  may  be. 

Sec.  5.  If  the  employer  or  employers  refuse  to 
grant  the  request  as  presented  by  the  duly  author¬ 
ized  representatives  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  then  the  N. 
Ex.  C.  shall,  after  every  possible  effort  has  been 
made  to  settle  the  difficulty,  order  such  Local  or 
Locals  as  may  be  concerned  out  on  strike  if  they 
deem  it  expedient.  • 

Sec.  6.  Any  action  taken  to  reduce  the  hours  of 
labor,  to  abolish  piece-work,  to  abolish  the  running 
of  more  than  one  machine,  and  to  regulate  compen¬ 
sation  for  over-time,  shall  undergo  the  same  course 
of  procedure  as  provided  for  in  Sections  3,  4,  and  5 
of  this  Article. 

Sec.  7.  All  grievances  arising  in  shops  between 
members  of  this  N.  T.  A.  and  their  employers,  such 
as  reduction  of  wages,  running  of  more  than  one 
machine,  piece-work,  etc.,  shall  first  be  referred  to 
the  Bureau  to  which  their  L.  A.  is  attached,  by  the 
Delegates  of  the  various  Locals,  to  which  said 
members  having  grievances  belong,  or,  if  there  is 
no  Bureau  established,  the  Locals  to  which  the 
members  belong  shall  refer  it  to  the  Division  to 
which  they  are  attached,  and  if  they  are  not  at¬ 
tached  to  any  Division,  it  shall  be  referred  to  the 
N.  Ex.  C.  of  this  N.  T.  A.  198. 

Sec.  8.  If  the  Bureau  to  which  said  grievance  or 
grievances  is  referred,  decide  that  it  is  likely  to  in¬ 
volve  the  entire  industry,  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the 


CONSTITUTION. 


21 


Division  to  which  it  is  attached,  and  that  it  cannot 
be  brought  to  a  successful  conclusion  without  co¬ 
ercive  measures ;  then  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said 
Bureau  to  bring  it  before  the  Division  to  which  it 
is  attached,  and  in  cases  requiring  immediate 
action,  the  Bureau  by  a  vote  of  urgency,  may  de¬ 
mand  that  a  special  meeting  of  the  Division  be 
called  on  said  case  providing  that  the  regular-meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Division  does  not  take  place  within  ten 
(10)  days. 

Sec.  9.  After  the  Division  has  taken  the  proper 
action  in  such  cases,  as  provided  in  the  By-laws 
of  the  Division,  and  fail  to  bring  it  to  a  satisfactory 
conclusion,  it  shall  then  be  referred  with  all  neces¬ 
sary  papers,  documents,  etc.,  also  the  recommend¬ 
ation  of  the  Division  to  the  N.  S.  T.,  who  shall 
immediately  bring  it  to  the  attention  of  the  N. 
Ex.  C. 

Sec.  10.  If  the  N.  Ex.  C.  find  it  necessary  to  use 
coercive  measures  toward  an  employer  or  a  cor¬ 
poration,  it  shall  have  power  to  draw  upon  the 
Assistance  Fund  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  11.  No  Local,  or  Locals  attached  to  this  N. 
T.  A.  196  shall  obey  the  orders  of  any  other  Trade, 
or  District  Assembly,  unless  sanctioned  or  approved 
by  the  N.  Ex.  C.  of  this  N.  T.  A. 

AETICLE  X. 

ASSESSMENTS. 

Section  1.  This  N.  T.  A.  shall  have  the  authority 


22  CONSTITUTION. 


to  levy  assessments  for  its  own  maintenance  under 
the  following  provisions  and  restrictions :  When¬ 
ever  the  N.  Ex.  C.  deem  it  necessary  to  levy  an 
assessment  for  the  maintenance  of  this  N.  T.  A., 
they  shall  instruct  the  N.  S.  T.  to  issue  a  circular 
to  all  Locals  under  the  jurisdiction  of  this  N.  T.  A. 
stating  the  necessity  for  said  assessment,  and  at 
the  meeting  at  which  said  circular  is  received  it 
shall  be  made  special  order  of  business  for  the  fol¬ 
lowing  meeting,  and  all  members  notified  to  that 
effect.  A  vote  shall  then  and  there  be  taken  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  N.  Ex.  C.  and  the  total 
number  of  members  present,  the  number  voting  in 
the  affirmative,  and  the  number  voting  in  the  nega¬ 
tive,  shall  be  endorsed  on  said  circular  with  the 
signatures  of  the  M.  W.  and  It.  S.  and  the  seal  of 
the  Local  attached,  and  if  two-thirds  of  the  total 
number  of  members  present  in  the  meeting  (those 
not  voting,  counted  in  the  affirmative)  vote  to  sus¬ 
tain  the  recommendation  of  the  N.  Ex.  C.  then  the 
N.  S.  T.  shall  immediately  issue  a  circular,  contain¬ 
ing  the  vote  of  each  L.  A.,  along  with  the  official 
notice  of  the  assessments  being  levied,  but  it  shall 
be  left  to  the  option  of  the  N.  Ex.  C.  when  the 
assessment  is  to  be  paid. 

Sec.  2.  All  assessments  so  levied,  shall  be  based 
upon  the  number  of  members  reported  in  good 
standing  at  last  quarterly  report,  but  in  no  case  shall 
the  amount  of  any  one  assessment  exceed  50  cents 
per  capita. 


CONSTITUTION.  23 


Sec.  3.  In  no  case  shall  maintenance  be  con¬ 
strued  as  embracing  the  purchase  of  real  estate, 
buildings,  establishment  of  journal,  etc.,  all  assess¬ 
ments  for  said  purposes  being  so  specifically  stated, 
and  taking  the  same  course  of  procedure  as  pro¬ 
vided  in  Section  1  of  this  Article,  with  the  addition 
that  in  issuing  circulars  recommending  purchase  of 
real  estate,  etc.,  a  detailed  description  of  said  prop¬ 
erty  or  plant  and  its  assessed  value  must  be  given, 
along  with  the  provisions  for  holding  said  property 
or  plant  in  trust  for  this  N.  T.  A.  198. 

Sec.  4.  This  N.  T.  A.  shall  also  establish  a  special 
fund,  to  be  known  as  the  Resistance  Fund  for  the 
purpose  of  supporting  the  members  of  this  N.  T.  A. 
198  while  on  strike  or  locked  out.  This  fund  to  be 
created  and  supported,  through  the  payment  by 
each  and  every  Local  of  this  N.  T.  A.  of  five  cents 
per  month,  upon  each  member  in  good  standing  on 
the  1st.  of  each  month,  to  be  forwarded  monthly  to 
the  N.  S.  T.  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  and  it  shall  not  be 
used  for  any  other  purpose  than  that  specified  in 
this  Article. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

MONTHLY  BEPOET. 

The  N.  S.  T.  shall  issue  a  Monthly  Report  of  the 
financial  and  general  condition  of  this  N.  T.  A.  also 
the  proceedings  of  the  N.  Ex.  C. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

AMENDMENTS  OE  ADDITIONS  TO  CONSTITUTION. 

All  amendments  or  additions  to  this  Constitution 


24  CONSTITUTION. 


must  be  submitted  to  the  Locals  within  30  days 
after  the  adjournment  of  any  session  of  this  N.  T. 
A.  and  in  order  to  become  law  must  be  ratified, 
paragraph  by  paragraph,  and  by  a  majority  vote  at 
a  meeting  especially  called  for  the  purpose. 


CONSTITUTION  FOR  DIVISIONS. 


AETICLE  I. 

This  National  Trade  Assembly  shall,  as  fast  as 
practicable  be  organized  into  Divisions,  taking  the 
place  in  the  Machinery  Constructing  industry  of 
the  former  Mixed  Districts,  and  shall  be  consti¬ 
tuted  as  follows : 

Section  1.  Whenever  five  or  more  Locals  at¬ 
tached  to  this  N.  T.  A.  198  desire  to  organize  a 
Division  of  this  N.  T.  A.,  the  M.  W.  of  the  senior 
Local  shall  issue  a  call  for  a  conference  of  all  those 
Locals  entitled  to  representation  in  said  Division 
when  organized ;  and  said  Convention  shall  draw 
up  such  rules  and  regulations  as  they  may  deem 
advisable,  and  not  conflicting  with  the  laws  of  the 
General  Assembly,  or  of  this  N.  T.  A.  198,  and  shall 
then  submit  the  same  to  each  L.  A.  represented  in 
said  Convention  for  their  approval,  and  if  said 
rules  and  regulations  receive  the  approval  of  a  ma¬ 
jority  of  the  Locals  represented,  they  shall  immedi¬ 
ately  proceed  to  organize  a  Division,  by  the  election 
of  the  necessary  officers,  as  provided  in  Section  3 
of  this  Article. 

Sec.  2.  The  basis  of  representation  to  the  Con- 


26  CONSTITUTION. 


vention  and  to  the  Divisions  when  organized,  shall 
be  three  delegates  for  each  100  members  or  less,  in 
good  standing  for  each  L.  A.,  and  one  additional 
delegate  for  each  100  over  or  majority  fraction 
thereof. 

The  first  delegate  elected  to  be  senior  delegate, 
and  in  case  of  death  or  resignation,  the  L.  A 
which  he  represents,  shall  designate  officially 
which  of  the  remaining  delegates  shall  fill  the 
vacancy  and  the  place  of  the  delegate  so  selected 
to  be  filled  by  the  L  A.  with  a  new  delegate. 

Sec.  3.  Upon  assembling  at  the  time  and  place 
specified  in  call  to  organize  a  Division,  the  Senior 
Delegate  of  the  Senior  Local  (in  date  of  organiza¬ 
tion)  shall  call  the  delegates  to  order  and  appoint 
a  temporary  Secretary  and  Committee  on  Creden¬ 
tials,  and  then  proceed  as  provided  in  Art.  III., 
Sec.  2,  Constitution  of  G.  A.  {Founding  of  Districts ) 
substituting  Chairman  for  Master  Workman  and 
the  titles  of  the  other  officers  as  hereinafter  pro¬ 
vided. 

Sec.  4.  Each  Division  shall  present  the  name  of 
one  of  their  members  to  the  N.  Ex.  C.  for  their  rec¬ 
ommendation  to  the  G.  M.  W  for  commission  as 
Organizers. 

ARTICLE  II. 

MEETINGS  AND  JURISDICTION. 

Section  1.  Each  Division  shall  meet  at  least 
once  a  month,  at  such  place  as  they  may  designate. 

Sec.  2.  Special  meetings  of  Division  may  be 


CONSTITUTION.  27 


called  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  members  present 
at  any  regular  meeting,  by  a  vote  of  three  (3)  of 
the  L.  A.  represented  in  the  Division,  presented  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Division  duly  sealed  and 
signed,  and  those  localities  where  Bureaus  have 
been  established  a  special  meeting  may  be  called 
as  provided  for  in  Article  IX.,  Section  8,  Constitu¬ 
tion  of  this  N.  T.  A. 

Sec.  3.  The  jurisdiction  of  each  Division  shall 
extend  over  that  portion  of  territory  covered  by 
the  Locals  represented  in  said  Division,  and  shall 
embrace  all  questions,  grievances,  strikes,  lock¬ 
outs,  etc.,  that  directly  and  only  concern  the 
Machinery  Constructing  industry,  in  the  territorial 
jurisdiction  of  each  Division. 

ARTICLE  III. 

OFFICERS  AND  THEIR  DUTIES. 

The  officers  of  a  Division  shall  consist  of  a 
Chairman,  and  as  many  Vice-Chairmen  as  there 
are  trades  represented  in  the  Division ;  the  Chair¬ 
man  and  Vice-Chairmen  each  being  selected  from  a 
different  branch  of  the  industry,  a  Recording  Sec¬ 
retary,  Financial  Secretary,  Treasurer,  Statistician, 
and  Board  of  Trustees  consisting  of  five  members, 
none  of  whom  shall,  for  the  term  of  their  office, 
fill  any  other  official  position  in  the  Division. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Each  and  every  Division  of  this  N.  T.  A.  shall 
have  authority  to  levy  assessments  upon  the  Locals 


28  CONSTITUTION. 


under  their  jurisdiction ;  but  in  all  cases  the  mode 
of  procedure  governing  such  cases  in  this  N.  T.  A. 
198  (see  Article  X.,  Sections  1,  2,  and  3)  must  be 
complied  with. 

ABTICLE  V. 

DIVISION  COURTS. 

Section  1.  A  Division  Court  shall  be  composed 
of  three  (3)  judges,  a  Judge  Advocate,  and  a  Clerk, 
said  officers  to  be  elected  annually  by  each  Division. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  Division  Court, 
to  review  and  determine  all  cases  appealed  from 
the  Court  of  a  Local  Assembly  subject  to  the  right 
of  appeal  from  the  decision  of  said  Division  Court 
to  the  N.  T.  A.  when  in  session.  Any  L.  A.  re¬ 
fusing  to  pay  an  assessment  levied  upon  it  by  the 
Division  is  guilty  of  insubordination  and  may  be 
tried  by  the  Division  Court. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  judges  to  care¬ 
fully  review  all  the  testimony  in  every  case  ap¬ 
pealed  from  a  Local  Court,  and  if  deemed  neces¬ 
sary  they  may  cause  the  witnesses  to  be  summoned 
and  examined.  They  may  also  admit  new  testi¬ 
mony.  They  shall  give  a  decision  confirming  or 
reversing  the  finding  of  the  Local  Court;  in  case 
charges  are  preferred  against  any  Division  Officer 
or  L.  A.  they  shall  try  the  case  upon  the  evidence, 
render  the  decision,  and  fix  the  penalty,  subject  to 
appeal  to  the  N.  T.  A.  when  in  session ;  a  majority 
of  the  judges  shall  decide  all  questions.  The 


CONSTITUTION. 


29 


judges  shall  appoint  one  of  their  number  as  presid¬ 
ing  judge,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  preserve  order 
and  decorum,  decide  upon  the  admissibility  of  tes¬ 
timony,  call  the  Court  to  order  at  the  convening, 
and  announce  the  finding  and  sentence. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Judge  Advo¬ 
cate  to  prepare  in  writing  all  indictments,  and  issue 
all  summons  w'hen  ordered  by  the  presiding  judge  ; 
to  attend  all  sittings  of  the  Court,  and  perform  all 
the  duties  of  prosecuting  attorney. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Clerk  to  attend 
all  the  sittings  of  the  Court,  and  keep  a  correct 
record  of  the  proceedings ;  serve  all  summons,  and 
perform  all  the  duties  pertaining  to  the  office. 

Sec.  6.  Any  regularly  elected  delegate  to  a  Divis¬ 
ion,  is  eligible  to  election  as  a  Division  Court  offi¬ 
cer,  and  may  at  the  same  time  hold  office  in  the 
Division ;  but  in  case  of  the  sickness  of,  or  if 
charges  be  brought  against,  an  officer  of  a  Division 
-  Court,  the  officer  holding  a  corresponding  position 
in  the  nearest  Division,  shall  be  summoned,  and 
shall  sit  and  discharge  the  duties,  and  all  expenses 
for  the  same  shall  be  paid  by  the  Division. 

Sec.  7.  In  the  trial  of  any  Division  officer  or  of 
any  L.  A.,  the  prosecuter  and  accused  may  choose 
their  own  counsel,  who  shall  be  members  of  the 
Order  in  good  standing.  In  the  case  of  an  L.  A.  the 
Court  shall  certify  the  decision  to  the  Division,  and 
the  Division  shall  execute  the  finding  without  vote 
or  further  action.  In  case  a  sentence  of  suspen- 


CONSTITUTION. 


30 


sion  or  expulsion  is  passed  against  any  Division 
officer,  the  Court  shall  certify  the  finding  to  the 
L.  A.  of  which  the  accused  is  a  member  and  the 
L.  A.  shall  execute  the  finding  and  make  the  proper 
record  on  its  minutes.  No  L.  A.  can  try  a  Division 
officer  for  neglect  of  duty,  or  malfeasance  in  office, 
as  a  Division  officer,  all  such  charges  must  be  made 
to  the  Division  Court.  In  cases  of  appeal  to  the 
N.  T.  A.  both  parties  interested  shall  be  officially 
notified  by  the  Clerk  of  Court,  and  all  charges, 
specifications,  evidence  and  findings,  duly  certified, 
shall  be  forwarded  to  the  N.  S.  T.  All  appeals  to 
the  Division  Court  from  the  decision  of  Local 
Courts  shall  be  made  within  thirty  days  after  judg¬ 
ment  has  been  rendered. 

Sec.  8.  Any  Division  Court  may  impose  a  penalty 
of  fine  or  suspension  for  contempt  of  any  summons 
*  or  process  legally  issued,  and  may  impose  a  like 
penalty  upon  any  witness  for  refusing  to  testify. 
Any  penalty  so  imposed  shall  be  certified  by  the 
Court  to  the  L.  A.  of  which  the  accused  is  a  mem¬ 
ber,  and  the  Local  shall  execute  the  penalty. 


4 


CONSTITUTION  FOR  BUREAUS. 


ARTICLE  I. 

In  order  to  provide  for  the  most  equitable  and 
economical  administration  of  affairs,  and  to  con¬ 
serve  the  autonomy  of  each  branch  of  the  Machinery 
Constructing  industry,  this  N.  T.  A.  198  shall, 
wherever  practicable,  and  as  speedily  as  possible, 
organize  Bureaus  of  each  and  every  branch  of  the 
industry  as  herein  provided. 

Section  1.  Wherever  there  are  three  or  more 
Locals  under  the  jurisdiction  of  a  Division,  whose 
entire  membership  embraces  one  trade  only,  either 
of  Pattern-makers,  Foundrymen,  Blacksmiths,  Ma¬ 
chinists,  or  Boiler-makers,  or  the  helpers  of  either, 
they  may  organize  a  Bureau  of  their  respective 
branch,  in  such  manner  as  they  may  deem  most 
advisable ;  but  it  shall  not  be  compulsory  for  any 
L.  A.  to  join  said  Bureau. 

Sec.  2.  Each  Bureau  thus  organized  shall  have 
jurisdiction  over  affairs  appertaining  to  their  trade 
only,  and  in  the  territorial  jurisdiction  of  the  Divis¬ 
ion  to  which  they  are  attached ;  and  they  shall 
have  authority  to  make  such  By-Laws  as  may  be 


32 


CONSTITUTION 


by  them  deemed  best,  provided  they  do  not  conflict 
with  the  Constitution  of  this  N.  T.  A.  198. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  one  of  the  duties  of  each  Trade 
Bureau,  to  see  that  every  shop  in  its  jurisdiction 
is  thoroughly  organized,  having  a  Shop  Committee 
with  Chairman,  etc. 

Sec.  4.  Each  Bureau  shall  also  be,  as  far  as  prac¬ 
ticable,  a  bureau  of  employment. 


